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high cpu usage at startup

  • 2 replies
  • 4 have this problem
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  • Last reply by cor-el

RandomlyGenerated
RandomlyGenerated
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I've been having issues with my beloved Firefox for a number of days. On startup, the firefox.exe process shoots up to around 50% cpu and never seems to open. When running a second process, the browser window will display, but the initial process will stay at around 50% cpu.

I also get this problem when starting in safe mode, or selecting the "reset" option. I have also tried disabling hardware acceleration.

I have tried following the clean install steps, including removing all data from the user profile directories and program file directories, but unbelievably, still get the same problem. I have had this on v32, v31 and v30.

I have run Norton AV and not found anything.

I have installed a portable edition of Firefox, and do not have this problem, so I am guessing there is a profile folder that I'm missing, or there is some malware NAV is missing. Is this a complete list of all user profile and extension directories that lists more than this?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/uninstall-firefox-from-your-computer#w_remove-user-data-and-settings

Any suggestions of next steps?

I've been having issues with my beloved Firefox for a number of days. On startup, the firefox.exe process shoots up to around 50% cpu and never seems to open. When running a second process, the browser window will display, but the initial process will stay at around 50% cpu. I also get this problem when starting in safe mode, or selecting the "reset" option. I have also tried disabling hardware acceleration. I have tried following the clean install steps, including removing all data from the user profile directories and program file directories, but unbelievably, still get the same problem. I have had this on v32, v31 and v30. I have run Norton AV and not found anything. I have installed a portable edition of Firefox, and do not have this problem, so I am guessing there is a profile folder that I'm missing, or there is some malware NAV is missing. Is this a complete list of all user profile and extension directories that lists more than this? https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/uninstall-firefox-from-your-computer#w_remove-user-data-and-settings Any suggestions of next steps?

Modified by RandomlyGenerated

All Replies (2)

Sebastian Astill
Sebastian Astill
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Other than profile directories, a relevent difference between portable and installed Firefox is that portable doesn't use the Windows registry.

It might be worth running a registry cleaner and a defrag.

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.

Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full, unrestricted, access to install for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.

See:

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over problems.

Modified by cor-el